New York, NY – An intriguing video circulated on Wednesday showing Robert De Niro passionately addressing a crowd, with actor Jesse Plemons observing from the sidelines. Several pro-Israel social media accounts reshared the video, claiming De Niro was confronting pro-Palestinian protestors amidst the Israel-Hamas War that began on October 7th.
However, De Niro’s representative, Stan Rosenfield, clarified that the video was a snippet from the Netflix series “Zero Day,” where De Niro was rehearsing a scripted scene in New York. Rosenfield emphasized that De Niro’s lines were part of the show’s dialogue and not related to real-life protests.
Netflix corroborated Rosenfield’s statement, confirming that the video captured De Niro portraying a character in the series and not engaging with any actual demonstrations. Despite this, the video was misinterpreted on social media, with some posts incorrectly suggesting De Niro’s stance on certain political issues.
In “Zero Day,” De Niro stars as a former U.S. President enlisted to investigate a potential cyber-attack crisis. The series, also featuring Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Matthew Modine, and Angela Bassett, is directed and executive-produced by Lesli Linka Glatter of “Homeland.”
The incident underscores the ease with which misinformation can spread online, highlighting the importance of verifying sources before jumping to conclusions. Additionally, it sheds light on the complexities of portraying sensitive topics in entertainment and navigating the blurred lines between fiction and reality.
Ultimately, the misinterpretation of De Niro’s video serves as a cautionary tale, reminding viewers to approach online content with discernment and critical thinking skills. In an age where information spreads rapidly, it’s crucial to distinguish between fact and fiction to avoid contributing to the spread of false narratives.